Nebraska- A former porn addict was among a host of people who spoke in favor of a legislative bill which would force strict guidelines on sex-related businesses.
During a public hearing on LB 443 — a bill sponsored by Sen. Mark Christensen [pictured] to regulate adult and sexually oriented businesses — Terry Rosseter told members of the General Affairs committee that he used to be “strung out on porn” and that it ruined his life and cost him his first marriage.
Now, a counselor for men struggling with the same addiction, Rosseter told the committee members he “loves the bill because it’s doing something.”
If approved, LB 443 would require any new sexually oriented businesses, like strip clubs and novelty shops, to be located at least a quarter-mile from churches, child-care facilities, homes, private or public schools, public playgrounds and public recreational facilities.
Existing adult businesses would not have to move, however the bill includes other restrictions specifically for exotic dance or strip clubs. In these establishments, dancers would have to stay six feet from their customers and would not be allowed to touch them in any way.
But club owner Ken Semler says the restrictions could put him out of business.
He’s owned the Night Before Lounge, an exotic dance club, for 27 years.
“I don’t have the room or square footage to do what needs to be done to make it financially feasible to even stay open,” said Semler.
Christensen says LB 443 would “promote the health, safety and and general welfare of the people of this state by establishing reasonable regulations to prevent the negative secondary effects of adult businesses and sexually oriented businesses” and that his intent isn’t to close down businesses like Selmers.
Those secondary effects are the main reason for Christensen’s bill.
He says sexually oriented businesses are associated with an increase in lewdness, prostitution, personal and property crimes and a negative impact on surrounding properties.
Christensen said these businesses also destroy families.
Opponents of the bill included other club owners and the Nebraska American Civil Liberties Union.
ACLU Director Amy Miller, says Christensen doesn’t have the hard data to support his claims.
“It is not adequate to merely recite that there are secondary affects and its not adequate to simply look at the experience of other municipalities. there needs to be a direct connection between the problem your attempting to solve in Nebraska,” said Miller.
Semler disputed the accusations of increased crime in around businesses like his.
“If there is such a wave of crime in this area and other areas why didn’t the police, or policeman or someone show up and testify for that,” asked Semler.
If the bill does make its way to the full legislature, Semler says he’ll have to live with their decision either way.